Boston oncologist urges consulate to grant visa to mother of sick child

A high-ranking doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital has written a letter to the American consulate in Halifax, urging an expedited visa for an Afghan womanwhose son needs cancer treatment in Boston.

Sajia Yaqobiis facing the grim prospect of saying goodbye to her 15-month-old son for two months, as he leaves home in St. John's andheads to the United States for a rare form oftherapy next month.

Her son, Elias Faqiri, has brain cancer, butshould survive with the help of proton radiation a treatment not offered in Canada.

"We, his treatment team, write this letter hoping to explain the desperate situation in the hopes that you would consider expediting the approval of Mrs. Yaqobi'stravel visa so she may join her son during this very trying time,"wrote Dr. Torunn Yock, a radiation oncologist and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and nurse practitioner Brooke Patteson.

Working with MP's office

Elias was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma just 10 months after he was born. He's undergone several rounds of chemotherapy at the Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John's.

Yaqobi is a permanent resident of Canada, but not a citizen, meaning she needs a visitor's visa to go to the United States.

In her five years in Canada, Yaqobi has given birth to two children and spent most of the last five months in hospital with Elias. She hasn't been able to reach the level of English proficiency needed to pass a citizenship test.

The family is working with their local Member of Parliament, Nick Whalen, and his staff to navigate the process of getting a visitor's visa in a short timeframe.

The process usually takes several months.

In the letter, Yock and Patteson said the mother's presence is required to ensure the baby gets appropriate care.

The first treatment is May 6, and it will continue for about two months.

First trip already complete

Eliasmade his firsttrip to Boston last week, along with his father, aunt and uncle, for some preliminary tests.

In order to make it through the full two months of intensive treatment, the medical team believes it's necessary Yaqobi make the trip.

"[He] will require her care due to his young age and the side effects of the treatment," the letterreads.

The family is expected to meet with Whalen's office on Monday, in hopes of travelling to the American consulate in Halifax in the coming days to meet with officials there.

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